Garment hanger



S. E. HERMAN GARMENT HANGER Aug. 8, 1939.

Filed March 29, 1958 Patented Aug. 8, 1939 PATENT OFFICE GARMENT HANGER Sidney E. Herman, Hollywood, Calif., assignor to Frances Herman Application March 29,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a garment hanger and has as its primary object the provision of a device for suspending trousers and similar garments in such fashion as to effect an expanding i action on opposed portions of the garment under the urge o-f the weight of the garment.

Another object is to provide a garment hanger of the abovecharacter which is collapsible and adapted to be folded into a compact space when not in use.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention is carried into effect as illustrated by way of example in the l5; accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the garment hanger showing it as applied in supporting trousers; y vFig. 2 is a detail in section and elevation ner of eifecting engagementbetween the hanger and a pair of trouser legs; Y

Fig.`3 is a view in elevation showing the hanger in its collapsed or folded position;

Fig. 41s a detail in horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig 5 isv an enlarged detail in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing more specifically A indicates generally a hanger which includes an elongated frame 6 fitted at one end with a hook 'I adapted to be engaged with a suitable support whereby the frame 6 may be disposed in` a dependent position from such support. A swivel connection 8 is provided between the frame 6 and the hook 'I for permitting relative turning movement of the frame and hook on the longitudinal axis of the frame.

'I'he frame 6 is here shown as formed of a pair of plates of sheet metal a and b placed face to face and securely connected relative to each other by tongues c on one of the plates bent into engagement with the other of the plates.

In carrying out the invention the frame 6 is fitted with oppositely extending pairs of links B and C; the pair of links B including a lower link 9 and an upper link I9 pivotally connected to the frame 6 by pivots Il and I2 respectively, and the pair of links C including a lower link I3 and an upper link I4 pivotally connected to the frame 6 by pivots I5 and I6 respectively. The pivots Il and I2 are disposed on the frame B directly opposite the pivots I5 and I6.

The links 9, I0, I3 and I4 are of corresponding length and are arranged with the links of each taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l showing the man- 1938, Serial No. 198,660

pair extending substantially in parallel relation to each other, and the links are pivotally connected at their outer ends by pivots I'I to pairs of links I8 and I9 arranged to extend substantially in parallel relation with each other and with the longitudinal axis of the frame 6; the pair of links I8 being arranged on opposite sides of the links 9 and I0 and the pair of links I9 being arranged on opposite sides of the links I3 and I4. The pairs of links I8 and I9 are bent at their lower ends to form garment engaging yokes D and E; each of the yokes embodying spaced side members 20 and 2| on which are positioned sleeves 22 formed of rubber or other resilient or cushioning material capable of aording a irictional anti-slip engagement with a garment.

Connecting with the frame E is a pair of springs 23 and 24 which lead to and connect with the upper links Ill and I4 and are arranged to exert a downward pull on the latter and tend to normally maintain the links 9 and I0 in longitudinal alignment with the pair of links I3 and I4; stops 25 and 26 being provided on the frame 6 to limit downward movement of the pairs of links B and C to their longitudinally aligned position.

Projecting laterally from opposed sides of the frame 6 is a pair of brackets 2l' and 28 formed with recesses 29 and 30, which brackets are arranged above the upper links ID and I4 and are adapted to be overlapped by said links when the latter are in an upwardly extended position, and formed on the links I0 and I4- are protuberances 3l and 32 arranged to engage the recesses 29 and 30 to act in co-operation therewith as detents for holding the pairs of links B and C in a position folded against the longitudinal margin of the frame 6, said protuberances and recesses are readily formed by indenting the sheet metal or plates of which said brackets and links consist.

In the operation of the invention, the link assemblies B and C may be swung to their folded position adjacent the hanger frame 6 as shown in Fig. 3 when the device is not in use as in packing it for marketing and when storing or transporting; the link assemblies being releasably retained in. their folded positions by reason of the projections 3| and 32 on the upper links IIJ and I4 being engaged in the sockets 29 and 30 on the brackets 2'I and 28 which engagement is effected under the urge of the spring action afforded by a resilient characteristic of the links I0 and I4 each of which is formed of a strip of fiat spring metal.

In effecting engagement of the projections 3I-32 with the sockets 29-30 the links lll-I4 are sprung laterally sufficiently to permit the projections to ride over the brackets 27-28 and into the sockets. Conversely, the links IIJ-I4 are sprung outwardly relative to the brackets 21-28 when it is desired to release the link assembly therefrom so as to effect disengagement of the projections 3l-32 from the sockets 29-30. The springs 23 and 24 will then act to swing the link assemblies B and C to their extended positions in which the links 9|0 project in alignment with the links I3-I4.

When it is desired to support a garment F on the hanger, the link assemblies are freed from their holding brackets and the yokes D and E are inserted in a band of the garment which band must be of such diameter that when straightened out the yokes D and E and the link assemblies will be in an intermediate position whereby the springs 23-24 will act in tending to straighten the link assemblies to effect a stretching action on the garment band. A frictional engagement between the yokes and the garment is effected by the action of the cushion members 22 on the side members of the yoke whereby the weight of the garment will exert a downward pull on the yokes D-E thereby tending to straighten the link assembly and exerting an increased outward thrust on the yokes whereby the stretching action on the garment band will be augmented.

The hanger as here shown is especially applicable for use as a pants or trousers hanger, and when employed for such purpose the side members 2G of the yokes D-E are engaged with the band of one trousers leg, While the side members 2| of the yokes are engaged with the band of the other trousers leg as shown in Fig. 2. When the hanger is designed for use in hanging trousers the side members of the yokes D-E are formed flat and narrow so as to present a narrow edge to the bend at the ends of the flattened band at the tip of the trousers leg so as to tend to maintain desired sharp creases in the end portion of the trousers legs.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of the invention, I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement shown; the invention embracing such changes and modications in the parts and their assembly as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a garment hanger, a supporting frame,

resilient links carried swingably on and projecting from opposed edges of said frame, garment engaging members carried by said links, and projections carried by said links which project from plane iniwhich they swing for releasably fastening said links in a folded position along the opposed edges of said frame, side portions of said frame having recesses into which said projections spring when said links are swung to the folded position.

2. In a garment hanger, a supporting frame,

l swingable links carried on and projecting from opposed edges of said frame, garment engaging members carried by said links, and cooperating fasteners consisting of projections and recesses for releasably fastening said links in a folded position along the opposed edges of said frame including lbrackets, said cooperating fasteners being carried by said brackets and links.

3. In a garment hanger, a pair of garment engaging yokes each including spaced side members, and a pair of links carrying said side members, a supporting frame intermediate said yokes, a pair of spaced parallel links carried on and projecting from each of opposed edges of said frame andpivoted to swing toward and away from said frame, and pivotal connections between said parallel links and said yoke carrying links,` and springs leading from said frame to one of the links of each of said pairs of parallel links arranged to exert a pull on said links tending to align the pairs of parallel links to effect a spreading action on saidyokes, and means for fastening said parallel links in a folded position adjacent the opposed edges of said frame, said fastening means including an indented strip of rigid sheet material carriedby said frame over the indentation of which a said link is movable in an edgewise manner, `and a lateral projection from such link to spring into said indentation.

Y4. In a hanger construction, a frame, and resilient garment supporting members swingably connected with opposite side portions of said frame, said swingable members having projections which are directed laterally in relation to the plane inwhich they swing, said frame being provided with recesses into which said projections are swingable to maintain said swingable members in a folded condition.

SIDNEY E. HERMAN. 

